Local Flora Winter Weeds

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern)

reproductive stalk: bead-like brown rolled segments containing spores, released early in spring

Oenothera biennis (evening primrose)

fruit = 4 chambered capsule that splits open along midline of each section, tips curl back --> flower-like appearance, 2 rows seed/section. arranged in a spike

Phytolacca americanab(pokeweed)

shrubby plant, collapses after frost, bleached looking stem

Asclepsias syriaca (common milkweed)

hairy warty follicle, fat at bottom, pointed at top, splits down middle, shiny yellow inside, flower = umbel

Verbascum thapsus (common mullein)

lone stalk or candelabra up to 6’ tall • leafy ridges along fuzzy stem, compact grouping of 2 parted capsules on spikelike raceme

Daucus carota (queen anne’s lace)

compound umbel, close & open in response to atm. humidity in winter either open or curved in on itself like bird’s nest

Spiraea alba (spirea)

reddish brown stem • fruit in panicle

Hypericum perforatum (st. johnswort)

opposite upcurving branches, red-brown stems

Lespedeza hirta (bush clover)

dried brown calyxes in rounded clusters

Arctium minus (burdock)

curved hooks on seed clusters for dispersal, pull to get off --> seeds separate from cluster, fruit = achene, flower = head

Aster sp.

dried stalks can be confused with goldenrod but tend to be smaller, more thinly branched, flowers not as clustered

Solidago sp. (goldenrod)

fall blooming, often erroneous blamed for hay fever (ragweed: wind pollinated --> produces lots of pollen)

Tanacetum vulgare (tansy)

dark, flat round heads on corymb • aromatic scent • fern –like leaves on basal rosette

Rudbeckia hirta (black eyed susan)

Cichorium intybus (chicory)

blue dandelion-like flowers at leaf axils • bracts of heads remain in clusters along stem • wide branching pattern

Achillea millefolium (yarrow)

tan bracts à heads arranged in flat-topped clusters = corymb • fern-like leaves in basal rosette, present in winter

Brassica sp. (mustard)

slender translucent membranes from seed pods